Gunman who killed Santa Cruz police detectives was wearing body armor

There was no warning before two Santa Cruz police detectives knocked on Jeremy Peter Goulet's apartment door Tuesday. A 35-year-old man who recently moved to Santa Cruz flung open the door and shot the two detectives to death, Sheriff Phil Wowak said at a somber press conference Wednesday morning.

Goulet also opened fire first when Santa Cruz police officers and sheriff's deputies ordered him to stop while he running down Doyle Street through the Branciforte neighborhood, Wowak said.

The two slain officers were identified as Det. Loran "Butch" Baker and Det. Elizabeth Butler.

Goulet was fired from his job at The Kind Grind coffee shop on Saturday after he made inappropriate sexual advances toward the co-worker at her home. The Kind Grind is located on East Cliff Drive in the Santa Cruz harbor.

Goulet's father said Wednesday that his son was a ticking time bomb who had contempt for police and the justice system. Goulet had numerous run-ins with the law previously and swore he would never go back to jail, his father told the Associated Press.

At 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Baker and Butler went to Goulet's apartment at 822 Branciforte Dr. to question him about a sexual assault against one of his co-workers.

The detectives were dying and radioing for help when Goulet stole their guns and fled in Baker's car, investigators said. He didn't get very far because hundreds officers were rapidly descended on the neighborhood.

"He remained in the neighborhood due to the overwhelming number of officers that were responding to the incident," Wowak said.

Goulet's father said his son texted his twin brother Tuesday, saying, "I'm in big trouble, I love you."

"Jeff texted back and Jeremy wouldn't answer and next thing we know he was shot and killed," he said.

Goulet ditched the car and was killed by police while he was shooting and running. Several bystanders were caught in the crossfire on Doyle Street and a Santa Cruz firefighter dove on top of one bystander to shield her from the bullets. No one was seriously injured.

The fallen detectives saved their community from a man who was determined to commit violence against innocent victims, Wowak said. Goulet was "suicidal or homicidal," he added.

"Subsequent investigation into Goulet's background after the shooting revealed he made recent statements that he was going to harm people," sheriff's Sgt. Patrick Dimick said. "Baker and Butler were unaware of this information."

Goulet was most recently arrested on Friday for disorderly conduct and public intoxication. He was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail and released hours later after posting bail.

He had a history of sex crimes in Oregon and served more than a year in jail after he was convicted of spying on young women and videotaping them.

Butler was assigned to investigate Goulet because she was the SCPD's top specialist on solving sexual assault crimes, Vogel said. The 10-year veteran is survived by her partner, Peter, 1-year-old son, and 5-year-old son.

Baker was a 28-year veteran on the SCPD force and even helped train the current police chief. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and son. Baker's son, Adam Baker, served as a community service officer for Santa Cruz and the father and son have mailboxes side-by-side at the Police Department.

"Butch was my most skilled investigator with the police department," Vogel said. "In terms of how we are doing at the department, we are having a tough time with this. We have never experienced anything like this. There aren't words to describe this horrific tragedy."

The Santa Cruz Police Department had never lost an officer in the line of duty.

Santa Cruz heroes: Butch Baker and Elizabeth Butler

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SCPD

Sgt. Butch Baker and Det. Elizabeth Butler were the first Santa Cruz Police Department officers to be killed in the line of duty.